Saturday, March 6, 2010

Master Classes, Château Pontet Canet vertical tasting

Once more a unique chance to experience a superb wine vertical tasting.


The rise Pauillac Fifth Growth Pontet-Canet is one of the success stories of Bordeaux and the owner Alfred Tesseron tells the story...


A tasting of 12 vintages from 1990 to 2008, a vertical tasting to remember.


Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Medoc, Pauillac

First Flight: 1990, 1994, 1999

1990 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Nice deep red color. Leather, earth... (88 pts.)

1994 Chateau Pontet-Canet
At the beginning closet but it has opened later. Floral, earth... tannins not well structured. Drink now. (89 pts.)

1999 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Good 1999. Complex nose, well integrated, sweet tannins, refreshing acidity, liquorice on the finish. Excellent and classic. (94 pts.)

Second Flight 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

2000 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Opulent but very closed. Need time but it will be perfect. (93 pts.)

2001 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Deep, dark, tobacco, blackberry aroma, a full bodied. Drink well now. (92 pts.)

2002 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Nice! Starting to open and it has superb earthy components. Very well balanced with silky tannins. (91 pts.)

2003 Chateau Pontet-Canet
This is amazing stuff. Fresh, fragrant... so atypical for the 2003 vintage. Full bodied. Need time. (93 pts.)

Third Flight: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008

2004 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Drinks well right now. Walnut, chocolate, coffee... Long and sweet tannins and good minerality. (90 pts.)

2005 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Almost violet. Beginning to close down and will stay like that for a long time. KEEP as this is going to be one of the most amazing wine one can have. (95 pts.)

2006 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Tasting 2005 and 2006, back-to-back, prompting the inevitable comparisons. Well made, but far a way from 2005. (89 pts.)

2007 Chateau Pontet-Canet
This is nice wine. Tannic but it will drink very well soon. (89 pts.)

2008 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Barrel sample. I can't access fully but it taste promising...

Alfred's good humor and sincerity is amazing and I'm looking forward for my visit to Bordeaux...

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